Chapter - 23

Elena was currently receiving treatment for her arm in a room filled with Nicolas, Luca, Elio, and some of their men. A few of the men had already left to track the intruder but returned with nothing. Elena sat on the couch as their gang doctor worked on stitching her arm. Fortunately, the bullet had passed through, meaning she only required stitches. Nicolas occupied a single sofa opposite her, while Elio stood in a corner, visibly too anxious to look at his sister being treated. He was the main reason she was in this state. She hissed and groaned in pain, gritting her teeth every time the needle pierced her skin.

"Arghh."

Elena groaned in pain while tears streamed down her face.

"Does it hurt?"

Elio asked pushing himself away from the corner walking towards her. Suddenly, Nicolas slammed his hands on the table and stood up from the sofa, shocking Elio and everyone else in the room. He ran his hands through his hair and looked at Elio with a level of anger he didn't know he was capable of.

"Hurt huh?"

Nicolas laughed humourlessly.

"She's in this state because of you!"

Nicolas shouted making Elio flinch.

"I-I didn't"

"What? You didn't mean to? If only you had listened to me and stayed in the room she wouldn't be in pain."

"Nicolas!"

Elena stood up and glared at him. Nobody, nobody gets to shout at her brother.

"You're right. He's weak and useless. He isn't meant for this whole mafia thing. Who knows maybe in the future he will be the cause of someone's death. He is just a burden."

A sob caught Nicolas's attention, pulling him out of his anger. The realization of what he had said hit him like a punch to the gut. He turned to look at Elio, who had tears glistening in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Elio said through his sobs. Guilt gnawed at Nicolas as he saw Elio's broken expression. Before he could apologize, Elio ran out of the room.

"Fuck you."

Elena said to Nicolas before sprinting after her brother.

"Fuck!"

Nicolas screamed as he threw the vase from the table, shattering it into pieces. Luca approached him and stood beside him with a stoic expression.

"I'm going to say this as your longtime friend, not as your employee, what you said to your husband was awful. That poor boy was devastated hearing those words from you. I hope he doesn't forgive you easily and that you have to grovel for a long time."

Luca said, patting his shoulder before leaving the room. Nicolas sat on the couch with his head in his hands, deciding not to go after Elio but to give him space and wait for him to return. During this time, he replayed the incident over and over in his mind. Just a few weeks earlier, he had been comforting Elio, assuring him that he was not weak, and now he was the same person calling him weak and useless. Few minutes later Elena came back and sat opposite him. He looked behind her to see if Elio followed her back.

"He went back home."

Elena said seeing Nicolas search for her brother. She could see the regret and worry in his face. Were they just friends or? Nicolas stood up without saying anything and left the room. He quickly got to his car and ordered his driver to drive to their home. The moment the car stopped in front of the house Nicolas got out and literally ran inside, making the maids and even the trio to look at him like crazy. Nicolas ran up the stairs and went to his room. He walked towards the door connecting his and Elio's room. He raised his hands to knock but decided not to. He sighed and went back to sit on his bed.

"Fuck!"

He muttered. He'll apologise and do whatever to make it up to Elio. This time he hopes that Elio forgives him.

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Nicolas looked at his reflection while fixing his cuffs of his shirt. It was a new day and he was mentally preparing himself for apologising to Elio. He ran through many ways and ideas to say sorry to him. He let out a breath and walked outside. Nicolas sat down for breakfast and waited for Elio to come down. Few minutes of waiting Nicolas saw Elio walk down and the moment he saw Nicolas he smiled. Huh?

"Good morning."

Elio said in a cheerful voice. Elio sat down while Nicolas looked at him like he grew a second head. Did Elio forget that Nicolas behaved rudely towards him yesterday and made him cry. Elio made small talks with him like nothing happened. Nicolas knew the smiles Elio giving him was fake. Why was he not ignoring or acting cold towards him? Afterall he deserves it. This whole thing was making Nicolas feel more guilty and uncomfortable.

"I won't be coming to the office today."

Elio said looking at Nicolas.

"Oh. Why?"

Nicolas asked hoping it was because he was tired and not because he don't want to come again after yesterday's incident.

"Just tired."

Elio said shrugging. Elio stood up after finishing his breakfast saying goodbye to Nicolas. The whole ride to his office and even after reaching his office Nicolas was still disturbed. Why didn't he react or act cold towards him? Nicolas was thinking about the same thing again and again.

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Meanwhile back home three men were looking at Elio like he said something absurd.

"What!? Say something."

Elio whined like a child.

"You want us to train you?"

Jay asked saying each word correctly.

"Yeah. That's what i was saying for the past half an hour."

Elio said rolling his eyes.

"So will you guys train me or..."

"We will, but why the sudden desire to train?"

Simon asked confused.

"Maybe i'm tired of being the 'weak one'."

Elio said quoting the word weak one.

"Elio did someone say something to you?"

Tyler asked sitting next to him. Elio thought about yesterday's incident and his heart ached at remembering Nicolas's words. He took a deep breath and smiled.

"No. So when are we going to start our training?"

Elio asked changing the topic. The three of them knew he was lying and hiding something from them. Elio came back from the base yesterday alone, face tear stricken and eyes red and puffy and he didn't eat dinner or talk with them about his experience at the base. What made it suspicious was the way their boss was acting all awkward today at breakfast. They decided that he will open up about it when he's ready.